Roman Palestine

Roman Palestine was a period in the history of Palestine characterised by Roman rule in the region of Palestine, running from 63 BC, or sometimes from AD 70, until the seventh century. The time period is sometimes further sub-divided into early and late periods, with the transition between the early and late periods occurring in either AD 70 or 135.

During this period, Palestine went through a series of administrative changes, beginning as a series of Roman client states under the Hasmonean and Herodian dynasties before being gradually annexed into the Roman Empire as the fully incorporated Roman province of Judaea. After AD 135, Roman Palestine was re-organised into the Roman province of Syria Palaestina, an administrative unit that persisted until 390, when the province was expanded and subdivided into Palaestina Prima, Palaestina Secunda and Palaestina Salutaris under the overarching administration of the Diocese of the East. The three subdivided Palestinian provinces continued to be administered together until the Muslim conquest of the Levant in the seventh century.